The major players are simply too interconnected to risk a direct conflict between them. China for example owes a lot of it's economy to western nations buying it's cheaply-made goods. Because of this no matter how much of our debt they own (which for the record is only about 8%, the highest single owner by a significant margin but not even close to a majority) they are at least as dependent on us as we are on them.

I could see a significant regional war, most likely in the Middle East, but again the major players are going to avoid direct confrontation even if they technically support different sides.

In other cases like North Korea, a new war would simply be about a dozen different nations dog-piling North Korea while China, after being assured of their own security via diplomatic channels, looks the other way. The war would last maybe a couple of months at most, mere hours if nuclear weapons are deployed.

Roleplaying, hardcore Raiding, running LFR on the occasional weekend, PvPing, rolling alts, achievement hunting, pet battling, or just enacting an endless series of whims, I don't care how you play WoW. Just as long as you have fun doing it.

They are both countries with good leadership and both are not retarded. The only thing that's realisticly might going to happen is North Korea going suicide on South Korea and syria to transform to a wartorn country like Congo.

They are both countries with good leadership and both are not retarded. The only thing that's realisticly might going to happen is North Korea going suicide on South Korea and syria to transform to a wartorn country like Congo.

well to the second about syria that pretty much already happening... though on a smaller scale because of population

Originally Posted by Connal

I'd never compare him to Hitler, Hitler was actually well educated, and by all accounts pretty intelligent.

unless we find a replacement for fossil fuel soon, I see WW3 being fought by everyone over the last remaining oil wells
The EU, Russia, China and USA being the bigger "actors",

I find it unlikely we'd have something on the scale of a world war over oil. Smaller scale war, yes, but nothing that huge. War after all needs to be fueled by something, and if that something is oil you could run the risk of burning more oil then you could possibly pump out of the ground if things get out too far out of control.

Plus we aren't really all that far away from being able to reduce our need for oil by a significant amount. The electric cars aren't there yet, but a few more generations of the technology and they could very well be.

Roleplaying, hardcore Raiding, running LFR on the occasional weekend, PvPing, rolling alts, achievement hunting, pet battling, or just enacting an endless series of whims, I don't care how you play WoW. Just as long as you have fun doing it.

Another World War like WW2 is highly unlikely given how dependent and connected most civilized countries are to each other. As others have said, smaller conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, maybe even South America is much more likely. The only way I can see another World War happening is if another Hitler is born, someone with a lot of power out to just conquer. A group of people/nations wanting to conquer. Or..if aliens attack. As funny as that sounds, I don't see it any other way. And aliens attacking is...needless to say, very unlikely..lol.

If you're thinking a general war along the lines of the two previous, then no. Nuclear weapons have created a very effective deterrent - the most you will see is proxy wars in the manner of the Cold War.

Not to mention that, as stated, none of the great powers have any real gripes with each other that would escalate into total war.

If you're thinking a general war along the lines of the two previous, then no. Nuclear weapons have created a very effective deterrent - the most you will see is proxy wars in the manner of the Cold War.

Not to mention that, as stated, none of the great powers have any real gripes with each other that would escalate into total war.

Such an expert on absolutely everything, seriously. *sarcasm*
People are insane and capable of crazy things., you talk in absolutes as if the possibility of world war is impossible.
Are you just afraid of it or something?

Other than a fight for resources to me the most likely way for a war to break out would be if North Korea nuke tested a little too close to Japan. Otherwise, I really dont see a war happening again, it was proven in the cold war that everyone is scared of nukes.